By Admire Manzamwa
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Kennedy Center to provide 30 days’ notice before making any major physical changes to the building, including demolition, as President Donald Trump has publicly threatened.
U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper said his ruling would “avoid any confusion on that score given more recent events,” including the building’s sudden closure to the public on Wednesday, the Associated Press reported.
The order means the legality of any attempt to demolish the Kennedy Center would likely be subject to the judge’s review during the 30-day period, USA Today reported. Cooper required written notice more than 30 days before officials implement any change to the scope of renovation plans previously presented to the court, “including but not limited to any ‘demolition’ of the Center’s main building,” according to court reporting.
The ruling followed a hectic week for the venue. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, the Kennedy Center board — chaired by Trump and stacked with his allies — voted to close the center indefinitely for repairs, the AP reported. The vote came after Cooper rejected a proposal to add Trump’s name to the building.
Rep. Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat who serves as an ex-officio board member and is suing Trump over the center, asked the court Wednesday to undo the closure, which her lawyer described as a pretext for a long-term shutdown. Cooper allowed the center to remain closed for now but ordered the 30-day notice, People magazine reported.
Executive director and chief operating officer Matt Floca said he closed the center temporarily due to “acute risks to public safety resulting from continued structural deterioration,” including an inspection of the roof terrace canopy and a partial ceiling collapse earlier this month, according to the AP. The building will be closed for at least seven days to assess safety risks, Floca said.
Trump said Wednesday that the center could “end up being ripped down” if his administration does not get recognition for efforts to renovate it. “Because frankly, if we don’t do that, it’s going to close. It’ll end up being ripped down. It’s in very, very bad shape, very dangerous shape,” Trump said, according to the AP.
Beatty’s attorneys submitted new evidence Thursday: a photograph of Trump aboard Air Force One examining a large printout that appeared to include the words “Kennedy Center DEMOLISHED,” Law Commentary reported.
“It is simply outrageous that we have gotten to the point of consistent judicial intervention to protect this historic institution from getting bulldozed by the president,” Beatty said in a statement, according to People.
Cooper also ordered Kennedy Center officials to file a detailed status report by Sept. 23 explaining the temporary closure and emergency repairs, Law Commentary reported.
Congress has allocated $257 million for renovations of the center, but Trump has said he would help pay for the work only if his name is added back to the building, according to Consequence.
This story is based on reporting by the Associated Press, USA Today, People and Law Commentary.